Macedon

[GeneralHankerchief]

Kill the Greeks before you go for the Brutii. You'll get cash, command stars, and good recruiting centers. You won't have much of a problem because usually the Brutes focus on the eastern Adriatic coast before they push inland.

And so what if they get a little stronger while you're off beating up Athens and Sparta? That way it's more of a challenge.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Agreed as to the fun of the challenge.

Economically, securing Rhodes, Pergamum, Halicarnassus, and Cyprus would be a big boon for you (Cyprus is optional if its still Eggy and you don't want a war there yet).

Delay against Scythia and/or force them to go after you in forts or across bridges.

Odd tactic I heard discussed once. Atack on square, not on the diagonal. Get 16 reg phalanx together. Form them into phalanxes of two ranks of 60 each. Put all 16 into a line stretching across the entire map (most of it at least). March forward to opposite side. All horses, pinned by the unbreakable red force field, will be pinned and chummed. Have 4 cavalry available to plug gaps or help against any infantry that's seemingly successful.

[Stuperman]

I've got recently re-started a macedonian campaign that was suposed to be a swap game with a buddy of mine, but it fell through.

On the first turn I took all the troops I had in corinth, plus all the merc's I could get, and attacked sparta befor there was walls. the huge generals BG and the Spartans are tough, but you should have missle superiority, which makes it a bit easier. That same turn I took all avaiable troops from Larissa and Thessalonica to attack thermon.

Once Thermon and Sparta were mine I managed get a ceasfire and trade rights with the greeks. I then worked on consolidating, taking Athens, byzantium, crete and cyrene. About this time, the Brutii attacked, which allowed me to broker an alliance with the greeks who were getting beaten badly by the Scippii. At the same time I was betrayed by the thracians, I eliminated them (they only held thier 2 starting provinces), keeping tylis for my self, and giving campus Getae to the Dacians for an alliance.

By this time I had an army of 6 phalanx pikemen(way better than levies), 4 archers, 2 samnite mercs(flanks of line) and various cav which has started the counter attack on rome, it has taken Apollonia and Tarentum, and defeated a HUGE scipii army (18 hastii, 1 princepes, 1 equites) in the northern part of the Tarentum province, and am trying to decide what to do. I'm thinking capua>croton>sicily or croton>capua>rome, it's hard to cover all of your fronts with just one army in italy. At the same time I have a 'regional defence force' (5 levy pikemen/3illyrian mercs) stationed at solona. the general is waiting for a newly built army (mostly the same as the first roman invasion army) heading up through Dalmatia targeting Segestica, and the Julii (by far the most powerful roman faction.

I also have a large missle based army slowly heading towards Siwa from Cyrene, I had to break a numidian seige cyrene to take it, and they won't accept peace. The only problem is that I'm not sure if I want to have a boarder with egypt like that, especailly with only one army in the area. I'll see if I can get some pics up.

[ixidor]

Speaking of cannon fodder . . . I was reading Adrian Goldsworthy's book "The Punic Wars" on the battle of Zama. Scipio had positioned his line with Hastatii in front followed by Principes, followed by Triarii. His laned columns allowed Hannibal's ellies to pass through. Hannibal placed all his lower grade infantry up front keeping his elite with him at the back of the line. Had the Roman cavalry force not returned to the field after chasing off the Carthaginian cavalry, Hannibal's cannon fodder troops might have worn down the Roman troops enough so that his elite force could carry the day. Some of his fodder troops rallied retreating through his lines. The Hastatii were definitely worn out. However, the Numidian cavalry returned to the field and hit Hannibal's elite troops in the rear. Interesting account. So, I guess the moral is - even ancient generals did what they thought they had to to win even if it meant sacrificing human lives.

The problem in zama was that hannibal, in my opinion, didn't adapt well to the fact that now he was the one in superiority in the infantry section by quite inferior in the cavalry section, his strength for over 18 years. Some say he tried to create a bait to take scipio's cavalry out of the battle. If he did it, he was not very smart, he had the prove in Cannae that cavalry can destroy the cavalry's army, chase the rooters and return when the infantry is about to lose. In zama he was beat in the same way he beat the romans in cannae... Yet, he did have something that may had give him the victory: his 80 war elephants. If i was hannibal, i would have used the war elephants together with his cavalry for a frontal attack. Scipios' cavalry couldn't prevent such and if he tried hannibal could have trapped his cavalry with his infantry in a dead trap. After make the break with the frontal charge, which he would surely do, his infantry would push over the breach and break the roman's will. To protect his flank he could have the same as alexander in gaugamela, left a reserve on the back to protec it and avance in a inverse semicircle to avoid flanking, but i believe that it wouldn't be necessary, with the frontal charge followed by infantry pressure, it was most probably that he could actually pass through the roman's ranks, thus appearing in rear of the enemy. Scipio could have only send his cavalry help in the roman's rear unless he wanted to lose the battle, and by this time the battle would be pretty much doomed, since the the inversed semicircle would turn in a true semicircle, with the infantry on flanks to march faster creating a double envelopment, whilke the reserves left behind, without the task of protecting hannibal's flank, could have push through the break in the lines. Well, but it's easy to talk after the battle is over, isn't it ?

Anyway, macedonian: the tactic is quite simple, take athenas, then take both greek settlements. Use the diplomat to bribe any greek army around to weak them even more, and better then that, use the bribed greeks against, guess what, the greeks cities. After that it's better to get a temporary ceasefire, it will be very profitable to you, believe me. Also, protect Bylazora since this town will be target for both Dacia and Tracia VERY soon. Build 2 forts in the nort and east narrowed valeys close to the city (just lefting 1 unit of milita hoplites there is enough) will give you SEVERAL turns, believe me. Meanwhile get extra troops and mercenaries if you really need them, and bring some cavalry from tessalonica. Then i usually follow 2 routs: conquer rhodes and kydonia (I spend some times rebuilding my navy since the greeks will most probably destroy yours, that's why i cease fire meanwhile) and attacking brutti while there are no walls in Apollinia. After that it depends in which is your stance but, really, macedonia is easy to play. Why? You not only have one of the most profitable bases of all factions (money is rarely a problem) and a very good tech tree, you also have incredible troops to use and temples to power them up. You have great phalanx units and, on contrary of the greeks, you have very good cavalry to help in your flanks and with deadly charge. Even that light lancers are great, i mean, light fast moving cavalry with 16 charge bonus? Are you kidding me? Ah, and you can even get some nice archers. Your are regular ones have 7 missile attack, a normal attack, but with artemis' temples and armourer you can rise this number to 14, which basicly means pharaoh's bowmen at your command. So, with the proper focus in militar buldings in strategically cities, you can have an army full of very strong phalanxes, very strong heavy cavalry (and even a couple of very good light cavalry), plus very destructive and long range archers that will make your foes coming after you very quickly unless they want to be devasted before then even start the melee.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

...Well, but it's easy to talk after the battle is over, isn't it ?

Only if you survived.

[silverhand]

is that anyone know why my macedonian diplomat never success make an alliance with thrace ?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

is that anyone know why my macedonian diplomat never success make an alliance with thrace ?

It's semi-scripted, particularly on some difficulty settings, that certain neighbors are always ready to go to war with you on the slightest pretext. The game's AI is always seeking a way to get you in a 3 front war when you have resources for two armies, a 4 front war when you have resources for 3 full stacks etc. The goal is to force you to do the heroic "Napoleon defeats 3 separate armiesin one campaign" thing to up the challenge factor.

Given the AI's tactical "prowess" it barely creates enough of a challenge as is.

SO....

take the trade rights, assume war starts w/ Thrace within 5 turns and plan accordingly.

[silverhand]

It's semi-scripted, particularly on some difficulty settings, that certain neighbors are always ready to go to war with you on the slightest pretext. The game's AI is always seeking a way to get you in a 3 front war when you have resources for two armies, a 4 front war when you have resources for 3 full stacks etc. The goal is to force you to do the heroic "Napoleon defeats 3 separate armiesin one campaign" thing to up the challenge factor.

Given the AI's tactical "prowess" it barely creates enough of a challenge as is.

SO....

take the trade rights, assume war starts w/ Thrace within 5 turns and plan accordingly.

thanks for the info Seamus Fermanagh

[Paradox]

I need help and I'm looking forward to playing as this faction, but where do I insert file directory the second poster posted?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I need help and I'm looking forward to playing as this faction, but where do I insert file directory the second poster posted?

You must edit the file he noted to read as he suggests (actually, I'd say leave the Senate as unplayable as it malfs up things quite a lot). This is why he suggests you save a backup copy of the file in another area of your hard drive (with a modified extension notation such as .bkp). That way if your editing of the base file hurts things, you can go back to square one simply by moving the backup back in place and changing the extension code.

[Paradox]

I've attempted to do that but the "imperial_campaign" file is empty...

It might be because I'm accessing it in another way (which I'm sure I'm doing since I'm searching for it).

[Monsieur Alphonse]

Go to the imperial campaign folder and edit the descr_strat.txt file. Cut and past Macedon to the playable section

[Paradox]

Yes, I know that's what I'm supposed to do, but I don't know where to access this file to begin with. I kept looking for it and ended up searching for it and using a setup wizard to locate it.

[Monsieur Alphonse]

Mine is in this folder: D:\Program Files\total War\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign. I have mine on my second hard disk (D:) in my own created folder total war. Go to your total war folder and than follow the path: data => world => maps => campaign => imperial campaign.

Good luck

If you are using Vista it is probable a little different

[Paradox]

Ah, I see.

Well, first, I am using Vista. I also forgot to mention that I have the Gold Edition, so I don't have more than one disc here. Help would be appreciated, thank you in advance.

[Stuperman]

in vista there should be a "show compatibility files", button like thing just below the address bar. I need to click it if I'm doing anyhitng in the save directory of M2TW for KotR

[mrdun]

Macedon is an easy faction to play with. arly on hold the line with pike levvies or w/e they are called with general and archers behind them and flank with cav (which sets macedon apart from Greece). Plus loads of money. Easy.

[Caius]

You make it sound easy, but it isn't. dealing with the Brutii is a problem.

[Paradox]

I've been seeing some people saying that a plague would always be occurring in your capital, it doesn't. I changed my capital and the plague never appeared, even after 30 turns...

[mrdun.]

It is hardcoded, it must happen. In Thessalonica. Anyone have anything to say on this matter?

[mrdun]

You make it sound easy, but it isn't. dealing with the Brutii is a problem.

The AI do not know how to make flanking moves which cannot be predicted like humans can. If you use your cav against theirs, I think Macedon's are better, that takes out a main threat to your battle line. then proced to flank them. the hastati/princeps will try to charge you head on, easy fodder for your pikes. I am no great shakes on the battlefield but this technique works for me.

[Quintus.JC]

Macedon is not an easy faction to play as. Surrounded by potential enemies. Its’ early units is far from promising. The Greeks and Romans will hit them early on and Thrace also presents a threat on the northern frontier. It really does take an experienced general to deal with all the threats early on and expand them into a successful force like they were half a century ago. I played the campaign on a hard/very hard level. The first few decades were hard but after a while things begin to look up.


Greek Cities
Greek cities present a danger down the south. Sparta is a major troop-producing city. Collect all your might and attack it. They may have stronger troops but you do out number them and by using your light lancers wisely (maximise their charge ability)
You should be able to win the battle easily. Don’t massacre or enslave their population, as there is no culture penalty. Move your capital from Thessalonica to Larissa, as it is right in the centre of all your cities. Pump all of your phalanx pikemen from Sparta from now on. They are the backbone of your army. Focus Thessalonica on producing high quality cavalry. Try to get them to large city as soon as possible so you could train Macedonia cavalry. Light lancers have terrible melee stats despite their high charge bonus while Greek cavalry is almost useless, at least us I value it. After some reorganisation you should attack Thermon. Try to get there before the Romans. After taking Thermon the Greeks will be out of the Balkans altogether. Immediately make peace with them. They should agree to ceasefire as they’re on the losing side plus you will spare the harassment by the Greek navy. Take Athens after this and you’ll have a solid economy. Anyway, with the Greeks gone comes an even bigger enemy………………..

The house of Brutii
The house of Brutii will normally take Apollonia on turn 1. They made alliance with me knowing they shall betray me later on. I was happy to ally with them as it bought me valuable time to deal with Greece. Brutii attacked Thermon will I was besieging Athens. I had 2 units of Phalanx Pikemen and 3 units of Militia hoplites. Enough to block every street if it shall be attacked. After 2 turns the Brutii attacked. Only to be beaten back because they can’t pass my Phalanx pikemen blocking the hole in the wall. My victorious forces return from Athens and besieged Apollonia. I battered through as quickly as possible knowing reinforcement could arrive from Italy by any minute. Phalanx troops naturally have an advantage in sieges. As soon as the walls are down my forces were in. Brutii forces landed 2 turns later in an effort to win back their land, after decisively defeating them the Brutii was crippled and did not attack me for 10 years. Just then another threat was rising in the north…………

Thrace
Thrace was left alone because I was busy dealing with the other more threatening factions, however, after conquering Byzantium they turned on me. Thessalonica was besieged. I had enough garrison to repel them if they attempted to capture the city. They did, their militia hoplite and falxmen were no match for my phalanx pikemen blocking every street. My faction heir later led a campaign in Thrace that ended ultimately in the destruction of Thrace. I retreated under the Danube and gave Campus Geatea as a present to the Scythians.

Now the Balkans was secured. Along came peace and prosperity. Sparta was specified as in producing Phalanx Pikemen in masses. In Athens came the archers and in Thessalonica was the training centre for Macedonian cavalry. My navy was preventing Brutii forces from landing in Greece. I kept my nose out of Asia. Knowing Rome was next to feel my force. At that stage my force was normally made of:

10 units of Phalanx Pikemen. These guys are impregnable to frontal assaults and could hold their line if not attacked from the flanks or rear.

3 units of Macedonia Cavalry, reliable cavalry with good melee status, these guys could give the decisive blow to any troop.

2 units of Light lancers, Useless in melee but has an amazing charge bonus, they are fast moving and could kill off enemy archers and charge at a few surprised infantry. If charged at the right movement, their charge could be devastating.

2 units of Archers, use them to soften the enemy and also weaken the enemy elite.

2 units of ballista, useful hitting densely packed enemy infantry and also could save you time when siege wooden walls.

1 General to inspired my troops to greater glory.

I then took Italy city by city. After that I made alliance with the Gauls and headed East into Anatolia and fought against the Egyptians who always seemed to be the strongest faction every time. The Macedonian Phalanx and Cavalry combo should be able to destroy anybody that stands in its way. Although I did have my own problems with the slow moving Phalanx, but with an strong cavalry watching it’s sides and back there never was any real problem.

[Quirinus]

I have a question about the Macedonian temple of Artemis-- at its highest tier it gives +5 to missle, but how does that work? Don't the troop improvements only go up till three (bronze, silver, gold)?

[Verrucosus]

I believe the +5 is not really a weapons upgrade, but a bonus that goes straight to the missile attack value that you can look up on the unit details scroll. Now that you mention it, I am not sure whether the scroll information is adjusted for the temple bonus or whether we have to calculate that in our heads.

[Quirinus]

Whoa. Cool beans. Does that mean that getting upgrades from a Blacksmith will still stack?

[mrdun]

Again, QJC, nice post.

[Quintus.JC]

under an exprinenced general, the Phalanx and Cavalry combo can beat anyone.

[Quirinus]

I think it depends. A more maneuverable army, like the Parthians or the Numidians. Rather early in the game, I got trounced by a Dacian army when my cavalry was engaged in assassinating their general, and the falxman flanked me. Shouldn't have happened normally, but I was overconfident from destroying a previous Dacian army. =P

[mrdun]

Ouch that sucks Quirinus. Any hellanic faction does not like barbarian units.

[Quirinus]

I believe the +5 is not really a weapons upgrade, but a bonus that goes straight to the missile attack value that you can look up on the unit details scroll. Now that you mention it, I am not sure whether the scroll information is adjusted for the temple bonus or whether we have to calculate that in our heads.

After playing more of Macedon, I think that the temple thing does improve your weapons directly-- a Large Temple of Artemis (+3) produces gold-sword Archers and Peltasts. I haven't gotten much further in the game yet (I've been playing the Greeks instead ) so I still have no idea what a +4 or +5 would entail.

Anyone knows the answer to this?